Apparatus for ejecting from blanks being fed to can body making machines and the like, double-fed and over-thick blanks



Sept, 2, 1947. p KRUSE 7 2,426,887 APPARATUS FOR EJECTING FROM BLANKSBEING FED T0 cAN BODY MAKING MACHINES AND THE LIKE, DOUBLE-FED ANDOVER-THICK BLANKs Filed Feb. 29, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l SOLENOID HOPPERSept. 2, 1947. us 2,426,887

APPARATUS FOR EJECTING FROM BLANKS BEING FED TO CAN BODY MAKING MACHINESAND THE LIKE, DOUBLE-FED AND OVER-THICKBLANKS Filed Feb. 29, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 //VVEN7'OR a HR USE Patented Sept. 2, 1947 APPARATUS FOREJECTING FROM BLANKS BEING FED TO CAN BODY MAKING MA- CHINES AND THELIKE, DOUBLE-FED AND OVER-THICK BLANKS Peter Kruse, New York, N. 'Y.

Application February 29, 1944, Serial No. 524,378

9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for ejecting from blanks being fedto can body making machines and the like, double blanks and overthickblanks, and provides improvements therein.

The invention provides an apparatus of the character described which issimple in construction and reliable in operation, and functions toprevent double blanks, or over-thick blanks, entering a can body makingmachine or like apparatus, and thereby breaking parts of, or jamming,such apparatus, and causing long delays in the operation thereof. Modernbody making machinery operates at high speed, and the present inventionprovides an apparatus which, while operating at like speed, does notthrow the ejected blanks about but handles them in a safe and orderlymanner.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Fig. 1 is. a view of said embodiment, partly in planand partly in section, looking down from the line [4-1, Fig. 2;

Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional view on the line 2--Z, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, is an enlarged sectional View on the line ..-3, Fig. 2,;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of parts shown at the upper left-handpart of Fig. 1 of the drawings, in a diiierent operative position.

The invention may receive other embodiments than that illustrated andspecifically described.

Referring to said drawings, numeral l designates a table on which blanksare fed. The blanks may be fed from a hopper I2, as is usual, by anywell-known means. The blanks are carried forward from the hopper (orstarting position) by suitable means. Advantageously the means has areciprocatory motion, with a slow start and stop in the forwarddirection. Feed-bars l5, l6, reciprocating in guides l8, IS in table l0may be used. The feed-bars carry sets of feed-fingers, 2!, 22, 23, thesets 22, 23 being depressible so as to pass under blanks strung out onthe feed-table H] on the return stroke of the feed-bars. The feedbarsl5, [6, may be reciprocated by a crankdriven lever 25 pivotallyconnected to a link 21, which latter is connected to a cross-piece 29 towhich the bars l5, I6, are attached] A center rest 3| on the tablebeyond the hopper and holddown rails 33, over the blanks are provided,which serve to control the blank while it is being fed, especially athigh speed. The hold-down rails 33 may be supported over the blanks. bya bracket 35 attached to a beam 31 which arches the table M, the railshaving pins 40 which fit in holes in the bracket 35. Springs ll may beprovided for pressing the rails down onto table part 3!.

A shelf 45 may be provided on table lil, on which ejected blanks arereceived and stacked.

Means are provided for feeding a blank on table ill to a can body maker(a part of which is illustrated at the right-hand side of Fig. 2), orother apparatus utilizing the blank. This means may comprise afeed-slide 5B which is reciprocated at right angles to the motion of thefeed-bars l5, iii. The feed slide 50 may be reciprocated by suitablemeans, as by a cam 55 on a driven shaft 56', and a lever 58 which isconnected to the slide 58 through a clutch 60. The clutch may comprise ablock 62, connected to a verticallymovable lifter 64, and having a forkor notch 65 for receiving the end or a part of reciprocatorylever 58.The block 62 also has a foot 66 under which the end of lever 58 rideswhen the clutch-block 62 is disengaged from the lever 53, and whichinsures re-engagement of the lever with the notch 65 in the block. Theclutch-block 62 is connected to lifter $4 in a suitable manner, as by apin Bl passing through a slot 68' having a length equal to thereciprocation imparted to feed slide 50.

The lifter E i of clutch Ell is advantageously operated by a solenoid llas by being connected to the armature H thereof by a pin.

Thesolenoid is energized to disconnect the clutch from lever 58 when adouble blank or too thick a blank is fed along feed-table H]. For thispurpose a feeler-finger 15 may be provided, which finger contacts anadjusting screw l6 carried by a lever 11 pivoted on bracket 35 andcooperating with an arm 19 of a switch Bil controlling an electriccircuit to solenoid 10. The feeler-finger i5 is adjusted to a heightabove the feed-table ll! equal to just about the thickness of a normalblank, and the arrangement is such that a slight rise of finger 15 abovethis height is sufiicient to actuate switch-arm 19 to close the circuitto solenoid 10.

Single and normal blanks do not pass forward on table ID beyond thefed-position under the feeler-finger I5, and stops 83 may be providedfor accurately positioning the blanks at this position at right anglesto the line of feed, so that they may be fed true from this position tothe can body maker, or other apparatus utilizing the blank. The stops 83are vertically movably supported, as by the blocks 84 on bracketsfastened to beam 31, and springs 86 may be provided for normallypressing them down below the line of feed of the blanks. Projections 88,in the form of rollers, are provided for lifting the stops 83 slightlyabove the line of feed, so that double blanks or overthick blanks may befed onto shelf 45, The shelf 45 may be slightly elevated above the lineof feed of the blanks, so that the rollers 88 may pass under the blankson shelf 45, and the latter may be provided with a bevelled front side90 on which blanks may ride onto the shelf.

Operation On each reciprocation of the feed bars I5, 16, blanks are fedalong table I from a hopper l2. The blanks pass under feeler-finger l5,and if a blank is a normal blank, normal operation of the apparatusensues. As the feed-bars start back, after positioning the blank againststops 83, the reciprocatory feed-slide 50 engages a side of the blankand advances it crosswise of table I0 toward a body-maker or otherapparatus utilizing the blanks, where it is gripped and its movementscontrolled by parts of the latter apparatus.

However, if two blanks are simultaneously fed from hopper I2, or anoverthick blank, when they come under feeler-finger I5, thefeeler-finger will be lifted and will act through lever TI to operateswitch-arm 19 to close the electric circuit to solenoid III and therebyenergize it to lift its armature H. The armature will raise lifter 84and the latter will lift clutch-block 62, and thereby disengage thereciprocatory lever 58 from the notch 65 in the clutch-block, so thatthe feed-slide 50 remains stationary while lever 58 can continue toreciprocate beneath the block 62 and the foot 68 thereon. This occursbefore the feed-slide 50 has engaged the double blanks, and thereby theentry of double blanks, or overthick blanks, into the can body maker, isprevented, together with interruptions of operation of the latterapparatus which might be caused by such double or overthick blanks. Onthe next forward reciprocation of feed-bars l5, l6, an overthick ordouble blank beneath feelerfinger 15 will be carried forward onto shelf45. The leading edge of the blank will ride up beveled edge 98 onto saidshelf, and, when another blank is on shelf 45, ensuing blanks will stackup under it. The underside stacking of the blanks on shelf 45 willprevent blanks fed out from under the hold-downs 33 from flying aboutand constituting a potential source of injury to persons and apparatus.At the time the feed bars I5, I 6, act to move the double blanks forwardfrom beneath feeler-finger 15, the stops 83 are lifted above the line offeed by the roller-projections 88 on the feed-bars. The stops will beheld lifted by the rollers 88 long enough for the leading edges of thedouble blanks to be advanced beneath them, after which the stops areheld up by the blanks until they pass onto shelf 45, whereupon theyagain drop into position across the line of feed.

When the space on table beneath feeler-finger I5 is clear, or occupiedby a normal blank, finger I5 acting through lever 11, breaks the circuitto solenoid 10. This allows armature II to drop, and with it the lifter84. Clutch-block 62 will drop, so that the end of reciprocatory lever 58engages the notch 65 when said end rides off foot 65 to a positionbeneath notch 65. With lever 58 engaged with clutch-block 62, feed-slide58 resumes its movement in timed relation to the feed-bars I 5, I6. Theslot 68 in lifter 64 constitutes a loose horizontal connection whichpermits clutch-block 62 to reciprocate with relation to lifter B4.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for ejecting from a series of blanks being fed to can bodymaking machines and the like, double and over-thick blanks, comprisingmeans (A) for feeding blanks in a line, means (B) for feeding a blanklaterally from said line, to be received by a machine utilizing theblanks; said means (B) comprising a reciprocatory part for contacting ablank at one side, and means for reciprocating said reciprocatory part;and means for stopping the motion of said reciprocatory part responsiveto means for detecting the presence of more than one blank or anover-thick blank in the line of feed of feeding means (A), said stoppingmeans comprising a clutch in the means for reciprocating saidreciprocatory part; said detectingmeans comprising a feeler displaceableby double blanks and over-thick blanks in the line of feed of feedingmeans A, said clutch being remote from said detecting means, andelectrical means actuated by said feeler upon a movement of the latterfor disengaging said remotely located clutch and thereby stopping themovement of said reciprocatory part of the feeding means (B), theconstruction and operation being such that when double-fed blanks andover-thick blanks are in feeding position for feeding means B, feedingmeans B is rendered inoperative and the blanks are ejected by feedingmeans A.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said feeding means A furthercomprises recipro catory feed-bars, and further comprising positivestops in the line of feed of blanks fed by feeding means A at theposition thereof in line with feeding means B, and means on saidreciprocatory feed bars of feeding means A for raising said stops abovethe level of blanks, at the initiation of each feed movement of the feedbars of feeding means A, so that when the action of feeding means B isstopped and blanks remain at the position of feeding means B, succeedingmovement of the feed bars of feeding means A advances edge portions ofthe blanks, left in position by feeding means B, beneath the upliftedstops and thereby enables the blanks to be slid beneath said stops andbe ejected.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said feeding means A furthercomprises reciprocatory feed bars, and further comprising positive stopsin the line of feed of blanks fed by feeding means A at the positionthereof in line with feeding means B, and means on said reciprocatoryfeed bars of feeding means A for raising said stops above the level ofblanks, at the initiation of each feed movement of the feed-bars offeeding means A, so that when the action of feeding means B is stoppedand blanks remain at the position of feeding means B, succeedingmovement of the feed bars of feeding means A advantages edge portions ofthe blanks, left in position by feeding means B, beneath the upliftedstops and thereby enables the blanks to be slid beneath said stops andbe ejected; a shaft beyond feeding means B for receiving blanks ejectedby feeding means A, and fixed means also beyond feeding means B forguiding blanks being ejected to a position beneath other blanks stackedon said shelf.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shelf beyondfeeding means B for receiving blanks ejected by feeding means A, and afixed means also beyond feeding means B for guiding blanks being ejectedto a position beneath other blanks stacked on said shelf.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrical means forstopping the action of feeding means 3 furthercomprises a solenoidhaving an armature, a connection between said armature and clutch, and,a switch, actuated from said feeler, in an electric circuit with saidsolenoid.

6. Apparatus for ejecting from a series of blanks being fed to can bodymaking machines and the like, double and overthick blanks, comprisingmeans (A) for feeding blanks in a line, reciprocatory means (B) forfeeding a blank laterally from said line, to be received by a machineutilizing the blanks, a feeler displaceable by doubled-fed and overthickblanks fed by means A, said feeding means B comprising a slide, acontinuously reciprocated part, a clutch-part on said slide movable toand from engagement with said continuously reciprocated part remote fromsaid feeler, and electrical means operated from said feeler for movingsaid remotely located clutchpart to a position of disengagement, theconstruction and operation being such that when doublefed blanks andoverthick blanks are in feeding position for feeding means B, feedingmeans B is rendered inoperative and the blanks are ejected by feedingmeans A.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said clutch-part has a notchfor engaging said continuously reciprocated part, and a foot having alength exceeding the stroke of said continuously reciprocated part awayfrom said notch for holding said clutch-part in its disengagingposition, after said electrical means ceases to act, while said notch isout of register with said continuously reciprocate-d part.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said electrical means furthercomprises an armature, a connection between said armature andclutchblock, and a slot and pin connection between said clutch-block andconnection, said slot having a length providing free horizontal movement'of said clutch-block throughout the stroke of said continuouslyreciprocated part.

9. Apparatus for ejecting from a series of blanks being fed to can bodymaking machines and the like, double and overthick blanks, comprisingreciprocatory means (A) for feeding blanks in a, line, reciprocatorymeans (B) for feeding a blank laterally from said line to be received bya machine utilizing the blanks, a feeler displaceable by double andoverthick blanks fed by means A, said feeding means B comprising aslide, a continuously reciprocated part, a clutchpart on said slideremote from said feeler and movable to and from engagement with saidcontinuously reciprocated part having a notch for engaging saidcontinuously reciprocated, part, electrical means operated from saidfeeler for lifting said clutch-part to a position of disengagementcomprising a solenoid, an armature, and a linkage between said armatureand clutch-part comprising a slot of a length to provide free horizontalmovement of said clutch-part whenengaged with and throughout the strokeof said continuously reciprocated part; a fixed shelf beyond saidfeeding means B for receiving blanks ejected by said feeding means A,and fixed means also beyond said feeding means B for guiding blanksbeing ejected to a position beneath other blanks stacked on said shelf.

PETER KRUSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,270,282 Eckman Jan. 20, 1942676,034 Elliott June 11, 1901 1,310,433 Powers July 22, 1919 2,276,388Haag Mar. 17, 1942 1,917,359 Cameron July 11, 1933 655,553 Heard Aug. 7,1900 2.357,850 Reid Sept. 12, 1944

